Inside the Phillies with MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki

Chipper’s Top Three Philly Moments

Chipper Jones is asked the same question every time he meets new reporters in a new city.

Does he think at all about coming back?

“Did you see me walk in here?” he said.

Jones limped through the visitor’s clubhouse this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies and Braves opened a three-game series. Jones, 40, is retiring after the season, despite hitting .297 with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and an .856 on-base-plus slugging percentage in 102 games.

“I’m in a lot of pain today,” he said. “It’s time. I’m happy that I’ve played well. I’m happy I’ve produced when I’ve been in there, but it’s time to go.”

He is not looking back, and he has no regrets.

So this represents the last time Jones will play baseball in Philadelphia. He entered Friday having played a combined 119 games at Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, hitting .329 (136-for-414) with 24 home runs, 69 RBIs and a 1.029 OPS.

The Phillies honored him before the game.

“I have a lot of respect for these guys,” Jones said. “These guys have done it as well as anybody for the last five or six years, even before the last five or six years. I was in the dugout in ’93, when they beat us with the (Curt) Schillings and (Terry) Mulhollands and Dutch (Darren Daulton) and (Lenny) Dykstra and all those guys. A lot of good baseball has been played here in Philly.”

Jones discussed his three most memorable moments in Philadelphia:

Phillies closer Mitch Williams striking out Bill Pecota for the final out in Game 6 of the 1993 National League Championship Series. “I can remember leaving the Vet and all the fans outside the stadium almost tipped our bus over,” Jones said. “It was a little intro into what Philly fans were all about. That was fun.”

The Phillies and Braves playing the first game following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Sept. 17 at Veterans Stadium. Jones homered in his first at-bat in the first inning against Phillies right-hander Robert Person.

Every plate appearances against pitchers like Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Curt Schilling. “That’s how you make a name for yourself, going out and putting up good AB’s against guys like that,” Jones said. “They’re the best in the business. They have not made it easy for us.”

10 Comments

“Does he think at all about coming back?” Sure, he’s going to come back so you can write about how he hung on too long and should have retired. He’s doing the right thing the right way. Leave it up to dumbass media types to ask him that.

Class act? There’s too much evidence to the contrary; and there might not be as many devoted Braves fans as there are devoted Phillies fans–nothing new about that, Philadelphia has always been a betters sports city–but my personal sense is that the fans in Atlanta are classier than the player. His trip around the league for honors and applause is more about MLB marketing than anything else. These sort of things should be reserved for the truly great and beloved, as there are so few of them. And he’s not coming back: once they give you the painting, there’s no coming back.

Agreed. It will be interesting to see how the league adjusts to the new Kendrick next year and how he in turn adjusts to that. … For what it’s worth, the Nationals are slowing down the Brewers train today, 9-0 in the 5th.

It was not that long ago when Charlie would leave Halladay in too long as to allow him to get a complete game. Now it it reduced to leaving Halladay in too long to get through the 2nd inning. I was thinking before the game how Halladay is probably the Phillies 4th best starter. I will now revise that to 5th.

I was at last night’s game. And knowing Doc was on the mound, expected the loss. Kind of sad, huh? But then when I heard about his shoulder issues, from the day before, I was really pissed at Charlie for putting him in! And who knows what further damage that short outing did to his arm?

Chipper is such a great guy. I really like your blog. I was wondering if you could check mine out. Come and see an 11 year old’s view on all things baseball. Please feel free to offer any advice.
-David

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